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GSA approves concept design for new federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

ATLANTA — The U.S. General Services Administration has approved the design concept for a new U.S. Federal Courthouse located on 3.5 acres on the Tarpon River in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The new facility, scheduled for completion in 2026, is poised to catalyze economic and cultural development in the neighborhoods immediately south of downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Overseen by a team of architects and engineers from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the forthcoming design will better meet the space and security needs of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Comprising approximately 252,000 gross square feet, the building will include 12 courtrooms and 17 judges’ chambers as well as workspace for complementary federal agencies that include the U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Probation Office.

Two renderings of a white, multi-story, triangular-shaped building with a U.S. flag, and with palm trees and walking spaces surrounding it

GSA is a longtime champion of environmentally high-performing buildings for the government and private sector, and the new courthouse confirms its sustainability leadership. The building is targeting both LEED Gold and SITES Silver certifications, and thanks to advanced building systems and design elements that limit energy use, it is projected to achieve a 30% reduction in energy use compared to baseline efficiency standards. Features of note include:

  • Fluted metal and glass exterior panels, a contemporary interpretation of Corinthian columns, moderating solar heat gain and contributing to robust interior daylighting
  • Added green space incorporating native species on three sides of the building, reducing urban heat island effect and establishing a public riverfront
  • A shoreline concept that seeks to maintain the on-site mangrove habitat and prevents stormwater runoff into the Tarpon River

Congress appropriated funds for a new courthouse in Ft. Lauderdale in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–141) An analysis of project requirements and site selection was completed in 2019, and the design team was awarded through GSA’s Design Excellence Program in April 2021. Upcoming design and construction phases will proceed according to a design-build methodology. The current design concept remains subject to minor modifications according to budgetary, operational, and security requirements.

The GSA Southeast Sunbelt Region oversees the delivery of real estate, technology, and procurement solutions to government and the American people in eight states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.


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GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. Our mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris administration priorities.

For more information, visit www.gsa.gov or join the conversation on social media @US_GSAR4 and other platforms.

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Last updated: Feb 3, 2022
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